The Evolution of Sex Determination

Beukeboom, Leo W.; Perrin, Nicolás

doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199657148.001.0001

Cited by 365 publications

(452 citation statements)

References 950 publications

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“…Linkage groups other than LG 2 should of course also be tested, in order to exclude a contribution of alternative genetic factors mapping to different chromosomes. Rodrigues et al [24] did not find any sex association with linkage groups other than LG 2 , despite very low male recombination over the whole genome, but analyses should be furthered with a higher density genetic map (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sex-chromosome differentiation and ‘sex races’ in the common frog ( Rana temporaria )

et al. 2015

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Sex-chromosome differentiation was recently shown to vary among common frog populations in Fennoscandia, suggesting a trend of increased differentiation with latitude. By rearing families from two contrasted populations (respectively, from northern and southern Sweden), we show this disparity to stem from differences in sex-determination mechanisms rather than in XY-recombination patterns. Offspring from the northern population display equal sex ratios at metamorphosis, with phenotypic sexes that correlate strongly with paternal LG 2 haplotypes (the sex chromosome); accordingly, Y haplotypes are markedly differentiated, with male-specific alleles and depressed diversity testifying to their smaller effective population size. In the southern population, by contrast, a majority of juveniles present ovaries at metamorphosis; only later in development do sex ratios return to equilibrium. Even at these later stages, phenotypic sexes correlate only mildly with paternal LG 2 haplotypes; accordingly, there are no recognizable Y haplotypes. These distinct patterns of gonadal development fit the concept of 'sex races' proposed in the 1930s, with our two populations assigned to the 'differentiated' and 'semi-differentiated' races, respectively. Our results support the suggestion that 'sex races' differ in the genetic versus epigenetic components of sex determination. Analysing populations from the 'undifferentiated race' with high-density genetic maps should help to further test this hypothesis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Epigenetics is meant here in its broadest sense (sensu [1,2]), referring to a phenotypic differentiation triggered by non-genetic cues, be they intrinsic (e.g. positional) or extrinsic (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex-chromosome differentiation and ‘sex races’ in the common frog ( Rana temporaria )

et al. 2015

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“…; and s.d. with both genetic and environmental components (Bull, 1983;Werren and Beukeboom, 1998;Uller et al, 2007;Charlesworth and Mank, 2010;Janousek and Mrackova, 2010;Beukeboom and Perrin, 2014). Remarkably, quite different s.d.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such variation points to frequent transitions between one s.d. system and another, possibly as a result of responses to sex-ratio selection, intra-and inter-genomic conflict, or turnover of sex chromosomes following their degeneration when recombination is suppressed (Werren and Beukeboom, 1998;Uller et al, 2007;Kirkpatrick, 2007, 2010;Blaser et al, 2013;Beukeboom and Perrin, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex determination in dioecious Mercurialis annua and its close diploid and polyploid relatives

Russell

Pannell

2014

Heredity

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Separate sexes have evolved on numerous independent occasions from hermaphroditic ancestors in flowering plants. The mechanisms of sex determination is known for only a handful of such species, but, in those that have been investigated, it usually involves alleles segregating at a single locus, sometimes on heteromorphic sex chromosomes. In the genus Mercurialis, transitions between combined (hermaphroditism) and separate sexes (dioecy or androdioecy, where males co-occur with hermaphrodites rather than females) have occurred more than once in association with hybridisation and shifts in ploidy. Previous work has pointed to an unusual 3-locus system of sex determination in dioecious populations. Here, we use crosses and genotyping for a sex-linked marker to reject this model: sex in diploid dioecious M. annua is determined at a single locus with a dominant male-determining allele (an XY system). We also crossed individuals among lineages of Mercurialis that differ in their ploidy and sexual system to ascertain the extent to which the same sex-determination system has been conserved following genome duplication, hybridisation and transitions between dioecy and hermaphroditism. Our results indicate that the maledetermining element is fully capable of determining gender in the progeny of hybrids between different lineages. Specifically, males crossed with females or hermaphrodites always generate 1:1 male:female or male:hermaphrodite sex ratios, respectively, regardless of the ploidy levels involved (diploid, tetraploid or hexaploid). Our results throw further light on the genetics of the remarkable variation in sexual systems in the genus Mercurialis. They also illustrate the almost identical expression of sexdetermining alleles in terms of sexual phenotypes across multiple divergent backgrounds, including those that have lost separate sexes altogether.

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“…Sex chromosomes are heterozygous in males in XY/XX systems (male heterogamety) and in females in ZW/ZZ systems (female heterogamety) (1)(2)(3)(4). Despite their involvement in a fundamental developmental process that might be expected to be highly conserved, sex determination systems are highly variable and generally show a poor fit to phylogeny (5)(6)(7)(8).…”

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confidence: 99%

Birth of a W sex chromosome by horizontal transfer ofWolbachiabacterial symbiont genome

Leclercq

Thézé

Chebbi

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

116

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Sex determination is a fundamental developmental pathway governing male and female differentiation, with profound implications for morphology, reproductive strategies, and behavior. In animals, sex differences between males and females are generally determined by genetic factors carried by sex chromosomes. Sex chromosomes are remarkably variable in origin and can differ even between closely related species, indicating that transitions occur frequently and independently in different groups of organisms. The evolutionary causes underlying sex chromosome turnover are poorly understood, however. Here we provide evidence indicating that Wolbachia bacterial endosymbionts triggered the evolution of new sex chromosomes in the common pillbug Armadillidium vulgare. We identified a 3-Mb insert of a feminizing Wolbachia genome that was recently transferred into the pillbug nuclear genome. The Wolbachia insert shows perfect linkage to the female sex, occurs in a male genetic background (i.e., lacking the ancestral W female sex chromosome), and is hemizygous. Our results support the conclusion that the Wolbachia insert is now acting as a female sex-determining region in pillbugs, and that the chromosome carrying the insert is a new W sex chromosome. Thus, bacteria-to-animal horizontal genome transfer represents a remarkable mechanism underpinning the birth of sex chromosomes. We conclude that sex ratio distorters, such as Wolbachia endosymbionts, can be powerful agents of evolutionary transitions in sex determination systems in animals.sex chromosome | horizontal transfer | Wolbachia | endosymbiont | isopod crustacean

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The Evolution of Sex Determination

Cited by 365 publications

References 950 publications

Sex-chromosome differentiation and ‘sex races’ in the common frog ( Rana temporaria )

Sex-chromosome differentiation and ‘sex races’ in the common frog ( Rana temporaria )

Sex determination in dioecious Mercurialis annua and its close diploid and polyploid relatives

Birth of a W sex chromosome by horizontal transfer ofWolbachiabacterial symbiont genome

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